Liquid-level gage



c. E. Cox.

LIQUID LEVEL GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2% I919.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

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flbtmwaw wane-m NITEID STATES I CLAUDE E. COX, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LIQUID-LEVEL GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.-

Application filed March 24, 1919. Serial No. 284,667.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLAUDE E. Cox, a citizenof the United States, residin at Detroit, in the county of Wayne andtate of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Liquid-Level Gage, ofwhich the following is a specification.

In motor vehicles dependent upon liquid fuel, especially air ships andautomobiles, it is, important that the driver know the available fuelsupply at all times and, in most instances, it is desirable that thefuel reservoir be considerably removed from the driver. t

p The object of my invention is, therefore, to produce a gage, forliquid levels, of such character that varying levels may be indicated ata distant point with a minimum error. A

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. Figure 1 is avertical section of an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2

a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 4showing a modified form of float; 'and Fig. 4a section on line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a reservoir of an desired capacity, havingan opening 11. housing 12 having a length substantially equal to thedepth of the reservoir'(if full depths are to be indicated) is providedwith a flange 13, by means of which it, may be secured in place, asshown. The housing 12 supporting an idler sprocket 14. at its lower endand driving sprocket 15 at its upper end, closely confines and protectsthe connecting sprocket chain 16 so that any slapping of the chain willnot objectionably 'aifect' the float which controls the movement of thechain.

In the form shown in Figs. 1'. and 2, the housing 12 forms a guide forthe float 17 and consequently said float is formed with an internalchannel or passageway 18 which lies to one sideof the axis of the floatbecause the float should most desirably be centered upon the active sideof chain 16, being connected thereto by arms 19 projected through a slot20 formed through the casin 12.

Because of the force required to operate chain 16 (as will appear),float 17 must be of considerableweight and buoyancy and, when of theform shown in Figs. 1 and 2, must be of considerable depth, because indiameter it is most conveniently a trifle less than the diameter ofopening 11. 1' The float should exert a direct pull on chain 16 and the11118 of pull should pass through the cen ter of flotationsotha't amaximum effect on the chain will be had under all conditions, and forthat reason, the float should be care- I fully balanced, as by means ofa balancing weight 21 or otherwise, in order to compen-' sate the effectof passage 18, theparts being so proportioned that'the line of, theactwo side of chain '16 will pass through the center of buoyancy of thefloat. Bythis 'means all twist on the chain is eliminated and the floatwill normally ride free of the casing 12.

Wheel 15 is carried bya shaft 22 which is connected by suit-able drivingconnections (such, for instance, as a flexible shaft through anair-tight tube 23) with an indicator finger 24. 1

The form of float shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

while 'eflicient, is sometimes ob ectionable,

because of its-relatively great depth which prevents indications of fueldepths lower than the buoyancy depth of the float. Nevertheless it isquite desirable that, while necessarily maintaining considerable-weightand buoyancy in the float structure, it be readily passed through thecomparatively small opening 11. I

In order to satisfy the conditions, therefore, and at the same timereduce the minimum of unmeasurable fuel, I have provided themodification shown in Figs. 3 and .4.

Casing 12, which is similar to casing 12, forms a guide for a slidinghead 30 connected bya finger 31 with chain 16.

Secured to head 30 are arms 32, 32 preferably alined with each other,and in the neutral plane between the head 30 and the active side ofchain 16, so that there will be no tendency of the floats. to eithertwist the chain 16 or cramp guides.

Pivotally mounted on arms 32, 32 are floats 33, 33 which are balanced onthe plane of chain 16. These floats 33. are of such dithe sliding head'30 in its ameters that the maximum dimension from outside to outside isslightly less than the maximum diameter of opening 11 (which 1n thepresent instance is shown as round). In

order to obtain suflicient weight and buoyancy, however, each float hasa length considerably greater than the maximum diameter of opening 11(as shown in Fig.3) and it is for that reason that each float is pivotedon 7 no pivotal action of the floats on their sup-- porting arms.

16 [housing incloasing said belt and wheels and supporting said wheelsat opposite ends of an arm 32, the arrangement being such that thefloats may-beswung to the positions indicated in dotted lines in Figs.Band 4 and thus be withdrawable' through opening l1.

Under normal operating cond tions, there is I claim as my lnventionz Aliquid gage comprising a belt, a pair of wheels supporting said belt, anelongated I ;my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 21st day of March, A. D.one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. i

the housing, said housing having cross dimensions closely approximatingthe space occupied by the belt; a buoyant member ec centrically sleevedover the housing and connected to the belt, said-buoyant member be v ingcounter-balanced, relative to the open-" ing through which thehousingpasses, to balance the said member relative to the belt, means bywhich the housing may be attaohed to a reservoir; and indicating drivingmeans connected to one of the wheels. I

In WitIlGSS'WhGIBOf, .I have hereunto set CLAUDE E. cox,

